I am living on a military base and wanted to start a home cleaning service, what type of license do I need?

Question

Do I need anything else to keep me legally safe?

Answer 1

First of all, it depends on the city you live in but here in Los Angeles, There re the requirements:

1.Business License (Business Tax Certificate): Required for all entities doing business within city limits. See "County Unincorporated" for businesses located outside of city limits.

Contact: City of San Fernando

Office of Business Licensing

117 North Macneil

San Fernando, CA 91340

Notes: Commercial Business Occupancy Application is also required: http://www.ci.san-fernando.ca.us/sfold/s...

2. oning (Land Use) Approval: May include Conditional Use Permit, Variance, Zone Change, Sign Permit, Parking Regulations, etc to conform to zoning provisions.

Contact: City of San Fernando

Planning/Zoning Department

117 North Macneil

San Fernando, CA 91340

3. ictitious Name Filing (DBA): Required if fictitious name is used.

Contact: County of Los Angeles

Business Name Filing and Registration

12400 East Imperial Highway

Room 1007

Norwalk, CA 90650

Notes: Notes: Additional location: 14340 Sylvan Street, 1st Floor Van Nuys, CA 91401 818-374-7191 Name search can be completed on the Internet.

4. Air Tanks Permit: Required of all businesses using (1) pressurized tanks with a volume greater than 1.5 cubic feet and containing greater than 150 PSI (pounds per square inch) of air; (2) Steam boilers over 15 PSI; or (3) retail stationary propane tanks.

Contact: Department of Industrial Relations

Pressure Vessel Unit-South

2100 E. Katella Ave.

Suite 280

Anaheim, Ca 92806

5. Corporation, Company or Partnership Filings: If you are considering becoming a corporation, (either stock or nonprofit), a limited liability company or a partnership (limited, or limited liability), you must file with the Secretary of State's Office.

Contact: Secretary of State

Business Programs Division

1500 11th Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Notes: Also, if you are conducting business as one of the following, you must file a bond with the Secretary of State's Office: immigration consultant,credit services organization, dance studio, discount buying organization, employment agency, employment counseling service, invention developer, job listing service, nurses registry, or auctioneer or auction company.

6. iscrimination Law: Harassment or discrimination in employment is prohibited if it is based on a person's race, ancestry, national origin, color, s*x (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, religion, physical disability (including AIDS), mental disability, marital status, medical condition (cured cancer), and refusal of family care leave. Discrimination in housing, public services and accommodations is also prohibited.

Contact: Department of Fair Employment and Housing

611 West Sixth Street, 15th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Notes: Employers must post the Harassment or Discrimination in Employment notice (DFEH 162) and provide their employees with a copy of the DFEH's information sheet on sexual harassment (DEFH 185) or a statement that contains equivalent information. Employers must also provide notice for an employee's right to request pregnancy disability leave or transfer, as well as notice to request a family and medical care leave (CFRA). Employers with 5 or more employees must maintain all personnel records for a minimum of 2 years.

7. Industrial Activities Storm Water General Permit: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit No. CAS000001 includes waste discharge requirements for discharges of storm water associated with industrial activities, excluding construction activities.

Contact: Cal/EPA

Water Resources Control Board

Notes: For discharges of waste water other than to a sanitary or industrial sewer, contact the Regional Water Quality Control Board in your Region to determine waste discharge requirements and if the filing of a Report of Waste Discharge is necessary.

8. Sales & Use Permit (Seller's Permit): All businesses selling or leasing tangible property must obtain a Seller's Permit.

Contact: State Board of Equalization

Sales/ Use Tax Division

Notes: For Additional information about RESALE CERTIFICATE go to this website: www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/faqresale.htm

9. tate EPA Identification Number: Required of businesses that generate, surrender to be transported, transport, treat, or dispose of hazardous waste.

Contact: Department of Toxic Substances Control

Generator Information Services

8810 Cal Center Drive, Suite 100

Sacramento, CA 95826

Notes: DTSC issues State Generator EPA ID Numbers. You may be referred to Federal EPA if you generate over 100 kg per month of RCRA waste (1-415-495-8895) or 1 *800) 6186942 or outside California (916) 255=1136

9. State Income Tax Information: Businesses should obtain the appropriate State income tax forms from the Franchise Tax Board.

Contact: Franchise Tax Board

Business Entities Division

P.O. Box 942857

Sacramento, CA 94257

Notes: All businesses are required to submit a Business Income Tax statement annually.

10. Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR's): Any facility or activity that discharges, or proposes to discharge, waste that may affect groundwater quality or from which waste may be discharged in a diffused manner (e.g., erosion from soil disturbance) must first obtain waste discharge requirements

Contact: Cal/EPA

Water Resources Control Board

Notes: For discharges of wastewater other than to a sanitary or industrial sewer, contact the Regional Water Quality Control Board in your Region to determine waste discharge requirements and if the filing of a Report of Waste Discharge is necessary.

11. Employer Identification Number (EIN or SSN): Employers with employees, business partnerships, and corporations, must obtain an Employer Identification Number from the I.R.S. Businesses can obtain appropriate Federal income tax forms from this location.

Contact: US Department of Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

300 N. Los Angeles Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Notes: EIN Application Form (SS-4) can be obtained from local IRS or Social Security Offices. The San Fernando Valley IRS office is located at the Federal Building, 6230 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys (1st Floor)

I hope this helped and most likely the requirements are the same in your area too.. so just search with the names of the department. I hope this helped.

Answer 2

You should check with the state you live in for their requirements.  You would also need to set up the business properly and have adequate insurance coverage.

Answer 3

I'm not quite sure what experience the two previous answers have had in business but it is a very simple procedure to start your own business. First go to the city hall where you are starting your business and apply for a business license, usually under $75, next go to a bank of your choice and open a business checking account, they will advise you about placing a ficticious name filing in a small local newspaper and last open the Yellow Pages and find a insurance agent in your area for a liability policy for a small business just in case you break or damage something accidently while cleaning. That's it! The only issue I see with your venture is that if there is a possibility you and your spouse could be relocated it will be your time and effort wasted.